Dyeing process



W. C. BLACK DYEING PROCESS Aug. 11, 1936.

INVENTOR. W/LA/fl/V CTBLAC'K Filed April 50, 1935 ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'DYEING raocnssWilliam C Black, Denver, Colo. Application April 30, 1935, Serial No.19,015 a 8 Claims.

My invention relates to a novel dyeing process and to a composition ofmatter eifective in performing the process, and it is an object of theinvention to provide a novel method of applying dyes to thin sheets ofporous material on which patterns and designs in fast colors can be produced simultaneously on opposite sides of the same.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a method ofdyeing involving the use of materials which are non-poisonous, and whichhave no deleterious effects on individuals coming in contact with thesame.

A further object of the invention resides in a novel step ofimpregnating the material to be dyed with one or more dyes-in such 'amanner that the dye is almost imperceptible on the surface of thematerial after it has been so applied.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of-a dye whichcan be applied to unsized paper by a novel method of application withoutproducing a sizing action on the paper.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel dyeingmethod which is simple,

economical and of wide application, and which permits the use ofpracticallyevery tint and shade of the color spectrum.

Various methods of printing pictures with invisible colors which aresubsequently developed are now known in the art, and generally consistin the use of carrying vehicles containing an insoluble pigment inaddition to the coloring matter, and are applied to the surface of asheet of paper, producing a pictorial design in black and white.Subsequent addition of water to the surface of the paper brings out thevarious colors as applied in the vehicle.

In the foregoing methods, the original design is not invisible, and onlythe latent color eifects are intially invisible. Furthermore this methodproduces only a surface coloring'and the various dyes do not penetratethrough the body of the paper or other material to which they areapplied.

My invention involves an initial step of impregnation, in which thevarious dyes are caused to penetrate into the interstices of thematerial where they remain undissolved in a finely-divided, dispersedand almost imperceptible condition.

The second step involves entering the dyes into solution whereby thenatural colors are brought out which permeate the entire body ofmaterial in which they are contained.

In performing my invention, -I employ any of the group of coal tar ornatural dyes which are soluble in water, and which can be prepared indry, powdered form. The dye is next introduced into a liquidor-semi-liquid volatile hydrocarbon in which the dye is insoluble. WhileI do not wish 5 to be limited to the use of specific compositions,carbon tetra-chloride, carbon disulphide and xylene (xylol) have provedparticularly eflicacious.

The finely-divided dye particles are mainl0 tained in suspension in adispersed conditionin the volatile hydrocarbon and where itis'necessaryt to prevent theparticles from settling, agitation may beemployed, v

The dye in liquid is next applied to a porous l5 material, such asunsized paper, felted or meshed fabric, by spraying with or without theuse of stencils, by means of relief or intaglio plates, or by stamps ofrubber, metal, etc., or the dye in its carrying vehicle may be appliedby brush or the like.

The carrying vehicle readily penetrates into the interstices of thematerial and the dispersed particles arethus distributed in a uniformmanner throughout the material. The hydrocarbon vehicle, being volatile,evaporates rapidly leaving the dry, undissolved particles in thematerial.

The dyes in undissolved form are of dull, lusterless appearance withtheir true colors only faintly visible. Being distributed throughout thematerial in a dispersed condition, the superficial surface of the dyewhich is visible is so small as to be practically imperceptible.

The next step involves the application of water which may be directedagainst either or both sides of the material. Brushing, spraying with anatomizer or by means of a jet of steam, dipping or any other convenientmethod of wetting may be resorted to, whereupon the dye goes intosolution and permeates the entire surface of the material in which it isheld.

When the material is dried, the true colors of the dye remain,distributed'throughout the material in the pattern in which theparticles were applied.

To promote a better understanding of the invention, reference will nowbe made to the accompanying drawing, in the several views of which likeparts have been similarly designated, and in which Figures 1 to 4inclusive illustrate the invention applied to a child's painting game,

- Figures 5 to 8 inclusive illustrate the stencils used in preparing thedesign illustrated in Figures 3 and. 4, r

Figures 9 to 11 inclusive illustrate the application of the process inthe production of textile designs,

Figure 12 illustrates the suspension and dispersion of the dye in itscarrying vehicle, and

Figure 13 is a sectional view of a fragment of porous materialillustrating the manner in which the dye particles penetrate theinterstices of the same.

In Figures 1 to 4' inclusive, of the drawing, the reference numeral l4indicates a sheet of unsized paper, and the reference numeralldadesignates the front side of the paper, while the back side isdesignated Mb.

Figure 1 represents the paper l4 after a design, involving the use of aplurality of dyes, has been applied. The volatile carrying vehicle atthis stage is evaporated, and the dye particles 15 are faintlyperceptible on the front side of the paper.

The back side Mb of the paper at this stage of the treatment iscolorless as indicated in Figure 2.

Either, or both sides Ma and Nb are next wetted with water by anyconvenient method of application, for example, by a brush, whereupon thedyes go into solution and permeate the material.

The paper is then dried, and the design remains in fast, natural colors,visible on both front and back sides of the paper M, as illustrated inFigures 3 and 4 respectively.

A pictorial representation l6 has been illustrated in Figures 3 and 4lined to indicate color. The lining represents the hat I! in red, thebody iii in gray, the legs IS in brown, the bill 20 and eyes 2| inyellow.

The stencil employed in producing the pictorial representation inFigures 3 and 4 consists of a section 22a which permits application ofthe gray dye representing the body [8, a section 221) permittingapplication of the brown dye for the legs IS, a section 220 permittingapplication of the red dye for the hat I1, and a section 22d for theapplication of the yellow dye for the bill 20 and eyes 2|.

It will be understood that any type of design may be used, and appliedby any of the methods previously described, and the dyes may be blendedinto various tints, shades and combinations by applying one dye overanother, if desired.

In Figures 9, 10 and 11 the application of the process to textile dyeinghas been illustrated, Figure 9 representing a sheet of textile fabric 23with the dry dye-powder l5 dispersed through the interstices of thematerial, while Figures 10 and 11 represent respectively the forward andreverse sides 23a and 23b of the material after wetting and drying.

It will be observed that the pattern is brought out on both sides of thematerial, the petals 24 being shown in blue while the pistil portion 25is shown in yellow.

The invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive is well adaptedfor magic painting for small children. The paper can be prepared in themanner indicated in Figures 1 and 2 and bound in books. If the side Mbis uppermost in the book the child sees no design on the surface of thepaper. He is then instructed to wet the surface of the paper with apaint brush dipped in fresh water, and as the surface of the paper iswetted, the design develops in the natural colors of the dye. Thehydrocarbon-carrying vehicles do not have a sizing action on the paper,consequently after drying, the surface of the paper is unchanged exceptfor the presence of the design.

In applying the dye particles to textile fabrics in the manner indicatedin Figures 9, 10 and 11, the intensity of the final color can becontrolled by varying the amount of dye particles employed inimpregnating any given surface. Thus, if an intense color is desired,more particles are introduced into a piece of material of given sizethan is required where a color of less intensity is to be produced.

Since the process permits the use of most of the known natural and coaltar dyes, the variety of colors 'which may be utilized is unlimited, andvarious blends and shades may be produced by mixing two or more dyes inthe material prior to wetting.

This method of textile dyeing possesses an advantage over presentpractice in that a throughand-through dyeing is attained in which thepattern on both sides of the material is uniform in color and design.There is practically no limits to the types of designs which can be soapplied to textile fabrics, and the simplicity and economy of theoperation involved make it readily adaptable to any use.

While the invention has been illustrated in connection with magicpainting games for children, and textile dyeing, it is to be understoodthat it is susceptible of many other applications, and in fact, may beutilized wherever coloring porous or semi-porous materials are required.

Figure 12 of the drawing illustrates the manner in which the particlesare suspended in a dispersed condition in the volatile carryingvehicle.The fine, solid particles, when maintained in this suspended state, willreadily enter the interstices of porous material, and remain in placetherein after evaporation of the carrying vehicle.

In this connection, it should be understood that while a volatilevehicle is preferable because of the rapid evaporation which is attainedfollowing impregnation of the material with the dye, a non-volatilecarrying vehicle may be em ployed, and an induced evaporation may beemployed, following impregnation.

Figure 13 illustrates the manner in which the dye particles aredistributed throughout a porous material after it has been subjected toimpregnation as hereinbefore explained.

Since any dye which is water-soluble and insoluble in any one of theliquids or semi-liquids used as the carrying-vehicle, and which can beprepared as a fine powder is adapted for use in the process, it isunnecessary to use any dye r possessing noxious properties, or which hasany injurious effect on persons contacting the same, as there aresufiicient natural and coal tar dyes which are non-injurious to produceany desired color.

Changes and modifications may be availed of within the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of dyeing porous material comprising impregnating a sheet ofporous material with particles of a water soluble dye dispersed in aliquid carrier which may be evaporated from said particles and in whichthe dye particles are insoluble, evaporating the carrier from theimpregnated sheet, and wetting the impregnated sheet with a solventmedium for the dye particles to cause the dye particles to go intosolution.

. of different colors, each dyeing medium contain- 2. A method of dyeingporous paper comprising impregnating a sheet thereof with particles of awater soluble dye dispersed in a liquid carrier which may be evaporatedfrom said particles and in which the dye particles are insoluble,evaporating the carrier from the impregnated paper, and wetting theimpregnated paper with a solvent medium for the dye particles to causethe dye particles carried by the pores of the paper to go into solution.

3. A method of dyeing porous material comprising impregnating difierentportions of a pattern carried by said material with dyeing mediums ofdifferent colors, each dyeing medium containing a water soluble dyedispersed in a liquid carrier which may be evaporated therefrom, and inwhich the dye particles are insoluble; evaporating the liquid carriersfrom the porous sheet, and wetting the so impregnated porous sheet witha solvent medium for the dye particles.

4. A method of dyeing porous material comprising covering the materialwith a stencil, impregnating different portions of the material definedby the stencil pattern with dyeing mediums ing a water soluble dyedispersed in a liquid carrier which may be evaporated therefrom and inwhich the dye particles are insoluble, evaporating the liquid carriersfrom the porous sheet, and wetting the so impregnated porous sheet witha solvent medium to cause the dye particles to go into solution.

5. A method of dyeing porous material comprising impregnating a sheet ofporous material with particles of water soluble dye dispersed in avolatile liquid carrier selected from the group consisting ofhydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives, the dye particles beinginsoluble in said carrier, evaporating the carrier from the impregnatingmaterial, and wetting the impregnated material with a solvent medium forthe dye particles to cause the dye particles to go into solution.

6. A method of dyeing porous material comprising impregnating difierentportions of a pattern carried by said material with dyeing mediums ofdifferent colors, each dyeing medium containing a water soluble dyedispersed in a volatile liquid carrier selected from the groupconsisting of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives, said particlesbeing insoluble in the carrier, evaporating the carriers from the poroussheet and wetting the so impregnated porous sheet with a solvent mediumfor the dye to cause the dye particles to go into solution.

7. A method of dyeing porous material comprising covering the materialwith a stencil, impregnating difierent portions of the material definedby the stencil pattern with dyeing mediums of different colors, eachdyeing medium containing a water soluble dye dispersed in the volatileliquid carrier selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons andhydrocarbon derivatives, said particles being insoluble in the carrier,evaporating the carriers from the porous sheet and wetting the soimpregnated porous sheet with a solvent medium for the dye particles tocause the dye particles to go into solution. I

8. A method of dyeing porous material comprising impregnating a sheet ofporous material with particles of a water soluble dye dispersed in aliquid carrier which may be evaporated from said particles and in whichthe dye particles are insoluble, evaporating the carrier from theimpregnated material, and wetting the impregnated side of the materialwith a solvent medium to cause the dye particles to go into solution.

WILLIAM C. BLACK.

